The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-12-31
To Save the Canal.
Special Dispatch to Baltimore SIM.

special DlSpaJcn 10 Baltimore ouu
CUMBERLAND, Md, Dec. 22.-The
meeting called by the Maryland Ca
nal Union to take steps toward secur-
ing national or State aid to the Ches-
apeake and Ohio canal was held in
the council chamber here this morn
ing, the spacious room being crowd
ed. The meeting would doubtless
have been larger had it been held in
the evening, but not more represen-
tative. There were in the audience
Cumberland's business men and
property owners, boat builders and
coal shippers, miners from Georges
Creek, and boatmen and coal ship
pers from the line of the canal, all
gathered to make one determined
effort to gain the old waterway. A
brass band enlivened the proceedings.
| Among the visitors from abroad were
Victor CushWa, F, A. Derby, G. W.
Embry. VIM. d, Erehn and James
Findlay, of Williamsport Thomas
Moore and Alex. Florer, from Four
Locks j. Spencer, Of Harper's Ferry,
and Thomas Callan and John Nc
Laughlin, from Orleans, Park Agnew
a prominent coal shipper of Alexan-
dria, arrived this afternoon after the
meeting.
The meeting was called to order at
10 A. NJ. by T. j.. Patterson, president
of the executive committee of the
Canal Union, and officers were selec-
ted as follows: President, Hon.
Louis E, McComas vice. presidents,
James Findlay, of Williamsport, and
Hon. WIN. Walsh, of Cumberland !;
secretaries, Alex, Florer, John j.
Edwards and w. L. Cowden.
On taking the chair Mr.. McComas
spoke as follows: my notice of this
meeting was short, so that l am not
here to make an extended argument
why this great waterway should be
saved. 1t ought to require no argu-
ment to make US do all in our power
to save this great work. l came to
gather your wishes and plans where
by some good shall come to the canal,
and also came because it was my
duty to be here to assure you 1 will
do all that can rightly be done in be-
half of this canal. | know the mass
of the Maryland people do not suffi-
GENTLY appreciate and do.their full
duty towards this great work. 1t is
the fashion to say, Canals are dead.
It's all over, and let it be sold to a
railroad These remarks are too
common. Years ago England passed
through the same history of railroads
absorbing or abolishing canals. In
Maryland two of your canals haYe
fallen ; but this great work of yours
remains untouched. But when you
talk of saving it, some say, You
can't do it. you know, B3nT Bat there II 1
---------es--.s aotsooIOn OF sentiment
in England regarding this matter.
begun in 1872, when Parliament
passed an act to prevent absorption
of canals by railroads. Let me read
you three lines of encouragement
from an English commission on de-
preston of trade: we think meas
ures should ceretainly be adopted
both to permit of the free develop
ment of canals wherever they are
likely to be useful, and to prevent
their being controlled by railroad
companies, as appears to be the case
in many parts of the country Let
us then foster and save our canals
from the railroads. 1t is useless to
talk of selling the canal to compel
ing line of railway, for railroads
never do compete any longer than
1t takes them to combine. If we set
cat to watch the cream it is very
hard to keep her from drinking some
of it. In this matter of competition,
especially in heavy freights, the day
of the canal has not yet passed. What
shall we do towards preserving this
public works? First, we want
breathing time to consider what shall
be done. 1t must be saved, as in the
New England and Western States,
by placing the regulation of the rail-
roads and canals in the hands of a
non-partisan commission. / am not
here to make any remarks about the
present or past administration of the
canal. but there never was a time
when L could not see that political
administration was hurtful and not
helpful. say this in a partisan
sense. 1t is true of the most virtuous
and earnest political party. There
is not virtue or business enough in
any party, Democratic or Republic
can, to manage the canal on business
methods. This is no reflection on
any person or any political party.
The State could take up by purchase
the repair bonds and put them in the |